By Habil Onyango
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga has nominated Mr Danish Otieno Onyango as the deputy governor.
Onyango, who is the CEC for Roads, takes over from the immediate former deputy governor Joseph Oyugi Magwanga who resigned after irreconcilable differences with Wanga.
Onyango’s nomination is subject to approval by the County Assembly.
The Governor also made changes in the constitution of the County Executive Committee following the nomination.
Onyango hails from Kasipul Kabondo Constituency which forms the larger Rachuonyo region.
According to the press release, Onyango joined the public service in 2003 and has a stellar record of excellent performance and integrity in high echelons of public service up to Under Secretary in the State Department of Infrastructure.
“I am confident that he will ably serve the County in this new DG role based on his exemplary performance since 2022,” noted Wanga.
“Pursuant to a vacancy in the Office of the Deputy Governor in Homa Bay County, following the resignation by the previous holder and in compliance with the County Government Act section 32, 32C, and 32D, I hereby nominate Mr Danish Otieno Onyango to serve as the DG of Homa Bay…”
The Governor said that through the DG nominee, who will continue serving as the CECM in charge of Roads and Public Works, result-based performance and leadership have expanded the County roads network and connectivity in all the 40 wards.
She said that in the 2024/25 fiscal year they managed to open 736 kilometres of new roads while 538 km of existing roads received routine maintenance.
She described the nominee as a resourceful team player and team leader who has partnered with the National Government in the Homa Bay Town upgrading of roads and expansion of Kabunde Airstrip.
Further, Wanga has nominated Elijah Obiny Dede from Ndhiwa Constituency to serve as the County Executive Committee Member in charge of trade, industry, tourism, marketing and co-operative development, previously held by Joash Aloo.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Sociology Degree from the University of Nairobi and an Executive Master of Business Administration.
Dede served as the Chief Officer in the same department before moving to Roads and Public Works and previously served as the CEO of Kenya Bankers SACCO.
Wanga said courtesy of his leadership of the department, 127 new cooperatives were registered and 10 dominant ones were revived while membership grew from 29,000 to 40,000 with asset expansion growing from Ksh 200 million to Ksh 500,000.
Isaac Ongiri from Kasipul Constituency, who is the former Chief Officer Department of Governance, Administration and Devolution, is the new CECM for Governance, Administration, Communication and Devolution.
The Governor however reassigned Dr Joash Aloo to serve as the CECM in charge of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Development, which was previously held by Onyango.
Aloo has been moved from Trade, Industry, Tourism, Marketing and Co-operative Development and before that Water and Sanitation.
“Dr Aloo had a tangible and positive impact in the previous dockets and I have no doubt he will move our agriculture to the next level, paying meticulous attention to our value chains, the key ones being cotton, sugar, millet, maize, rice, sweet potatoes, pineapples, edible oil, as well as livestock,” reads the letter.
“I direct the County Secretary to oversee a smooth handing over process,” said the Governor.
The Governor is set to forward the nominees’ names and vetting documents for approval by the County Assembly as required by law, save for the reassignment.
